Device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat

Abstract

A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat with the floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface is disclosed. The device of the invention includes an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end and an outer surface. The cylinder has an elongated slot formed in the outer surface thereof which extends between the ends thereof. A mat retainer bar is positioned in the cylinder. One end of the mat extends inwardly through the slot in the cylinder and is secured to the mat retainer bar. End caps are secured to the ends of the cylinder and have a lever secured thereto. The mat may be rolled up on the cylinder or unrolled from the cylinder by rotating the cylinder by way of the levers.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 said mat retainer having an elongated slot formed therein which extends inwardly thereinto from said first side thereof; 
 said slot of said mat retainer being configured to receive the first end of the floating mat therein; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second levers are slidably secured to said first and second end caps respectively. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second levers has an enlarged cap nut threadably secured to one end thereof whereby said first and second levers may be removed from said first and second end caps upon the removal of said cap nuts from said levers. 
     
     
       4. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4  wherein each of said first and second levers are slidably secured to said first and second end caps respectively. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4  wherein each of said first and second levers has an enlarged cap nut threadably secured to one end thereof whereby said first and second levers may be removed from said first and second end caps upon the removal of said cap nuts from said levers. 
     
     
       7. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 said mat retainer having an elongated slot formed therein which extends inwardly thereinto from said first side thereof; 
 said slot of said mat retainer being configured to receive the first end of the floating mat therein; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 said first end cap having inner and outer ends; 
 said outer end of said first end cap having a first handle which is configured to be grasped by a person to carry the device; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 said second end cap having inner and outer ends; 
 said outer end of said second end cap having a second handle which is configured to be grasped by a person to carry the device; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7  wherein each of said first and second levers are slidably secured to said first and second end caps respectively. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7  wherein each of said first and second levers has an enlarged cap nut threadably secured to one end thereof whereby said first and second levers may be removed from said first and second end caps upon the removal of said cap nuts from said levers. 
     
     
       10. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 said mat retainer having an elongated slot formed therein which extends inwardly thereinto from said first side thereof; 
 said slot of said mat retainer being configured to receive the first end of the floating mat therein; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 said first and second end caps being threadably secured to said first and second ends of said cylinder respectively; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       11. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 said mat retainer having an elongated slot formed therein which extends inwardly thereinto from said first side thereof; 
 said slot of said mat retainer being configured to receive the first end of the floating mat therein; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 each of said first and second end caps being cylindrical with open ends; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       12. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 said first and second end caps being threadably secured to said first and second ends of said cylinder respectively; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       13. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 each of said first and second end caps being cylindrical with open ends; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder. 
 
     
     
       14. A device for rolling up and unrolling a floating mat having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a bottom surface, comprising:
 an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; 
 said cylinder having an elongated slot, having first and second ends, formed in said outer surface thereof which extends between said first and second ends of said cylinder; 
 an elongated mat retainer having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; 
 said mat retainer having an elongated slot formed therein which extends inwardly thereinto from said first side thereof; 
 said slot of said mat retainer being configured to receive the first end of the floating mat therein; 
 the first end of the floating mat being secured to said mat retainer; 
 said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat being positioned in said cylinder by slidably extending said mat retainer and the first end of the floating mat into one of said first and second ends of said cylinder with the floating mat extending outwardly through said slot in said cylinder; 
 a first end cap selectively secured to said first end of said cylinder; 
 said first end cap having inner and outer ends; 
 said outer end of said first end cap having a first handle which is configured to be grasped by a person to carry the device; 
 a second end cap selectively secured to said second end of said cylinder; 
 said second end cap having inner and outer ends; 
 said outer end of said second end cap having a second handle which is configured to be grasped by a person to carry the device; 
 each of said first and second end caps being threadably secured to said cylinder respectively; 
 an elongated first lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said first end cap with said first lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder; and 
 an elongated second lever, having first and second ends, extending outwardly from said second end cap with said second lever being transversely disposed with respect to said cylinder.